Chapter 24 Western Imperialism

Western Imperialism Imperialism: the policy of strengthening a country’s power into an empire through the military and diplomatic domination of other areas of the world into colonies: Effect of Industrial Revolution Need for raw materials European rivalries =Scramble for colonies Britain dominated = early 1800’s (India) Late 1800’s: Belgium, France, Germany and United States followed with colonial empires.

Colonial Types 1) Indirect rule colonies (White dominion): few Europeans ruled many indigenous peoples. Used locals as leaders Congo, India, Java 2) Settlement colonies: A) White Dominions Canada, Australia Europeans settle in the colony permanently to inhabit most of the region B) Contested Settler Colonies New Zealand, South Africa, Hawaii Large European populations lived among even more numerous indigenous peoples and continuously clashed over resources and social/cultural differences

European Empires by 1800

Quick Review Question Imperialism is a result of what? There are two types of colonies: what are they?

Rise of British East India Company in India B.E.I.C. interests = As Mughals collapsed Gain influence through alliances with regional princes (who fought each other for control) Territorial gains with 7-Yrs. War victory over France The British relied on Sepoys (Indian soldiers trained in British military style) to control and crush any potential uprisings Sepoys received higher pay in the British army India was divided, no national unity could be formed to combat the British. Regional: Hindu/Muslim divide

Challenges to British East India Company B.E.I.C. officials = corruption and mismanagement. Led to Bengal Famine 1770 (1/3 of population died). Sepoy Rebellion, 1857 (Indian soldiers revolt). Ends with British victory. Led to dissolution of B.E.I.C. British government takes over British Raj

The British Raj The British Raj (the British political establishment in India) Telegraph lines = communication with British government. India a market for British manufactured goods and a source of raw materials. British put themselves at the top of the social hierarchy instead of changing the social system Adopted Indian culture Mixed marriages

Growth of British Empire in India from the 1750s to 1858

Reform in British India Started c. 1790 (as British government took on greater role from B.E.I.C.). Western technology – telegraph, railway Outlawed traditional Hindu practices Eg. Sati (the burning of a wife on her deceased husband’s funeral pyre) outlawed, c. 1830 Slavery Western education for upper-classes Promoted Western ideals (eg. Punctuality) English a common language

Quick Review Question What is the British Raj? What reforms did the British enact in India in the 19th century? Speculate on the effects of western education on the Indian upper- classes.

Scramble for Africa Europeans clash over African colonies as Africa offered raw materials and young markets. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 (organized by Otto van Bismarck) partitioned Africa into colonies controlled by Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Liberia and Ethiopia not colonized; South Africa already British No African representatives are present. Divisions made without concern for ethnic or cultural groups  traditional African communities disrupted.

Before Berlin Conference After Berlin Conference Scramble for Africa 1870 1914 Before Berlin Conference After Berlin Conference

Colonial Wars and Unequal Combat Industrial change justified colonial possessions and made them easier to acquire. New weapons (machine gun, repeating rifle) made the Europeans impossible to stop in Africa and Pacific Islands. Natives will try traditional tactics and sometimes diplomacy. Only guerrilla tactics proved to stall – but not prevent – European advances. 1879: Battle of Isandhlwana in South Africa (Zulu victory)

Methods of Economic Extraction African labor for colonists: plantations, bronzing, mining (discovery of diamonds), felling forests Plantations were established; natives forced to labor (long hours, extremely low wages if at all) to export crops. Belgian Congo: rubber for tires Palm oil from West and Central Africa for machine lubricants Roads and railways built to move raw materials to ports where they could be shipped using steamships that could travel along interior rivers. European colonial governments imposed a tax system on Africans, which had to be paid in cash or cash crops; this forced free Africans to virtually work for the colonists. Products weren’t manufactured in Africa but were processed in Europe instead.

Belgian Congo (1880’s – early 1900’s) Most egregious example of exploitation: King Leopold II Belgium = Rubber incredibly profitable Why? Industrialization Native Congolese reduced to serfs Men worked to death Wives held hostage until quotas met Hands cut off if you refused to work or if quotas not met. Murder, starvation, exposure 1885-1905: Congolese population declined by 10 million

Colonial Regimes and Social Hierarchies Europeans exploited ethnic and cultural divisions in Africa Borders created based on European agreements without consideration of African cultural tradition. Higher education was not promoted Rampant exploitation of African population All “stunted the growth” of African civilizations. No middle class develops Western languages taught by missionaries

Social Darwinism Social Darwinism: application of Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection to race to justify European conquest of non-Western societies White racial supremacy was widely accepted. Used to justify mental and moral superiority of whites over the rest of mankind based on skin color No need to socialize or adopt non- European culture

Civilizing Effects Europeans believed in the civilizing effects of their colonization. Not only did they provide order and stability, but also European culture and societal expectations regarding cleanliness and decorum. Europeans brought science and health studies with them. Aided in preventions against malaria for Europeans improved living conditions in colonies for indigenous peoples: hospitals built, sanitation improved

Quick Review Question Describe Social Darwinism; how does it relate to imperialism? What assumptions did Europeans make about non-whites, and why did Europeans believe their civilizing of natives was beneficial?

White Dominion Colonies Part of British Empire Basically governed themselves Based on British political and economic model “Imported” British culture Had small indigenous populations Many British settlers Canada (from France after 7 yrs. War) Australia, established 1788 Penal colony Influx of settlers after gold discovered

South Africa Boers (Dutch settlers in South Africa) gradually moved to the interior from the coast. Mixed with indigenous peoples (new race) British took Cape Colony Great Trek (1834): Boers migrated further into the interior of South Africa Zulu peoples fight against Boers, then British (Anglo-Zulu Wars)

South African Boer Wars 1850s: Boers established two republics (Orange Free State and Transvaal) in the interior. 1867: Diamonds in Orange Free State 1885: Gold was discovered in Transvaal Boer War (1899-1902) Boers vs. British British were victorious. 1902: British unite republics into Union of South Africa; Africans under European control Apartheid begins

Partition of Southeast Asia and the Pacific to 1914 Small kingdoms, not industrialized, easily colonized. British: Malay States; Burma French: Indochina (now Vietnam) Dutch: East Indies Pacific groups had lived in isolation for thousands of years. Sophisticated cultures and societies had developed No immunities Social disintegration and suffering

Dutch Expansion in Java Modern day Indonesia Traditionally a major player in Indian Ocean trade (spices). Srivajaya Kingdom Buddhism in region, then Islam Dutch enter picture 16th c. Alliances between Dutch and some sultans Dutch help Sultans, victorious Sultans cede territory to Dutch. Dutch slowly take over. By 1750 control most of Java.

The Maori of New Zealand British colonization for natural resources (timber). Eventually settled by British farmers and herders by 1850’s. Effects on Maori Disease, displaced from fertile land, convert to Christianity, adopt European farming techniques. Maori resisted, adjusted, and endure.

Economic Imperialism and Hawaii Economic imperialism, not political 1777-1779: English Captain James Cook voyaged to Hawaii. U.S. Missionaries bring Christianity in 1819. Disease devastates native population. American companies move in = sugar plantations. This is economic imperialism. Hawaiian monarchs declined after 1872 and Hawaii was annexed by the United States. US Congress took over the islands in 1898.

Quick Review Question What are White Dominions? Describe Dutch expansion in Java. Why did the U.S. government annex Hawaii?